March 2018 - Members - lists.sigcis.org

Re: [SIGCIS-Members] Konrad Zuse's 1936 patent - German text?
by Brian Randell 24 Sep '20

24 Sep '20

Hi Mark: I have a copy of the original 1936 Zuse patent application that I had translated into English for my Origins book. (It took some finding - some of my Zemanek documents had strayed into the middle of the Zuse documents, and so had obscured them! :-) It is a type-written document, on the letterhead of Zuse’s patent attorney Dr.-Ing. Bruno Wolf, Berlin Charlottenberg 5, Kantstrasse 85, dated 9.4.36 (i.e. 9 April 1936). It is some twenty or so pages in length. However I should warn you that some of the pages are barely legible (though could probably be deciphered by someone who knows German - which I don’t). I could scan this document for you if you wish. (I have about two inches thick of documents about Zuse’s work, including a number of patents and patent applications, some pre-war, immediately some post-war, together with several typescripts from him. My plan is that this material will be added to the archive of my files held in the Special Collections section of Newcastle University Library. This already holds all the extensive correspondence that I was involved in while compiling Origins.) Cheers Brian On 24 Jan 2017, at 10:58, Mark Priestley <m.priestley(a)gmail.com<mailto:m.priestley@gmail.com>> wrote: Dear list, Zuse's 1936 patent "Method for Automatic Execution of Calculations with the Aid of Computers" is reprinted in Brian Randell's "Origins of Digital Computers" collections. Does anyone know if/where I can get hold of the German original? Thanks in advance. Mark _______________________________________________ This email is relayed from members at sigcis.org<http://sigcis.org>, the email discussion list of SHOT SIGCIS. Opinions expressed here are those of the member posting and are not reviewed, edited, or endorsed by SIGCIS. The list archives are at http://lists.sigcis.org/pipermail/members-sigcis.org/ and you can change your subscription options at http://lists.sigcis.org/listinfo.cgi/members-sigcis.org -- School of Computing Science, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE1 7RU, UK EMAIL = Brian.Randell(a)ncl.ac.uk<mailto:Brian.Randell@ncl.ac.uk> PHONE = +44 191 208 7923 FAX = +44 191 208 8232 URL = http://www.ncl.ac.uk/computing/people/profile/brianrandell.html

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IBM 610
by John Impagliazzo 25 Apr '18

25 Apr '18

Hi All, Allegedly, some consider the IBM 610 Auto-Point computer (1959) the ‘first personal computer’. http://www.columbia.edu/cu/computinghistory/plugboard.html Is this true – even slightly true?? John John Impagliazzo, Ph.D. Professor Emeritus, Hofstra University IEEE Life Fellow ACM Distinguished Educator

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Facebook Live tomorrow (Wednesday)
by Ceruzzi, Paul 30 Mar '18

30 Mar '18

Greetings: I believe that one is allowed to do a modest amount of self-promotion on this Listserv. If so, I will let you know that tomorrow, Wednesday, at 12:30 PM ET (1630 GMT) I will be doing a "Facebook Live" presentation on the work of Margaret Hamilton, one of the programmers of the Apollo Guidance Computer, and now a Lego Action Figure. You've probably all seen that famous photo of her standing next to a pile of computer print-out. We collected some of the binders 25 years ago, and I hope to explain a little about what's printed on those pages. The material is now at our Archives in Chantilly, Virginia. https://airandspace.si.edu/collection-objects/apollo-flight-guidance-comput…. I am not Facebook-savvy, but I assume you go to the "National Air and Space Museum Smithsonian Institution" page at 12:30 tomorrow, and it should come up. You will also see that on Saturday we are having an event to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the screening of "2001, a Space Odyssey." I hope to have some posts to Facebook or the NASM blog about HAL, my favorite computer. I am aware that the timing for this is not the best, but we scheduled this months ago, long before the recent Facebook mess happened. The irony is that Tom & I had a discussion about Facebook not long ago, where I predicted that something like this was going to happen (did I get that right Tom?) My feelings about Facebook & Twitter will have to wait for a separate post. Paul Ceruzzi

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Fwd: Call for Papers: SHOT 2018 Graduate Student Workshop
by Colin K Garvey 29 Mar '18

29 Mar '18

Hi all — would appreciate it if you could forward this one widely throughout your networks… Thanks! > Begin forwarded message: > > From: Society for the History of Technology <shot.secretariaat(a)tue.nl> > Subject: Call for Papers: SHOT 2018 Graduate Student Workshop > Date: March 28, 2018 at 05:53:16 EDT > To: garvec(a)rpi.edu > Reply-To: shot.secretariaat(a)tue.nl > > > > > > > > > Call for Papers: > SHOT 2018 Graduate Student Workshop > Annual Meeting 2018: St. Louis, Missouri, US > 11-14 October 2018 > > > SHOT is pleased to issue the Call for Papers for the Graduate Student Workshop at the SHOT 2018 Annual Meeting to be held 11-14 October, 2018 in St. Louis, Missouri, US. > > SHOT invites applications from graduate students to present short papers: > (up to 10 pages, 1.5-spaced) at an intensive workshop embedded in the formal SHOT conference. The workshop will provide graduate students with an opportunity to develop their presentation skills and to receive extensive feedback on their work from several established scholars. > > This is an excellent chance to become familiar with SHOT's scholarly community before presenting a first official paper at a later SHOT conference as a candidate for the Robinson Prize. <http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=001ggZ23Fw1u6Oit9rcPNeUnYggwr74mmwxqRP-v2-BKQsY…> While the Grad Student Workshop will be listed on the SHOT conference program, the specifics of participants' presentations will not. This is done to ensure the Workshop is a safe space for graduate students to confidently present their work. Accepted students will nevertheless be eligible to apply for travel funding. > > The workshop will be on a morning or afternoon session during the annual meeting, which runs October 11-14. Each graduate student will present her or his paper, with or without slides, and be invited to comment on other papers as appropriate. The workshop will be mediated by Colin Garvey (RPI) and several other scholars. > > Proposal Format: One page in total, comprising name, contact, affiliation, paper title, and an abstract of up to 300 words. > > Submission Instructions: Submit proposals to this form <http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=001ggZ23Fw1u6Oit9rcPNeUnYggwr74mmwxqRP-v2-BKQsY…>, and email them to Colin Garvey at garvec(a)rpi.edu <mailto:garvec@rpi.edu> with "Graduate Student Workshop" in the subject line. > > ***The deadline for proposals is April 27th, 2018 *** > > While we will try to accommodate all submissions, space and time are limited. > > > SHOT and The Graduate Student Committee look forward to a vigorous, enthusiastic, and intellectually stimulating annual meeting in St. Louis! > > Sincerely, > > Sonja Beekers > > Stichting History der Techniek > Assistant to SHOT Secretary, J. Korsten > > > > Society for the History of Technology, Sonja Beekers, SHOT, Eindhoven, 5600 MB Netherlands > SafeUnsubscribe™ garvec(a)rpi.edu <https://visitor.constantcontact.com/do?p=un&m=001Xz26gWD0CDOi01mES8w44A%3D%…> > Forward this email <http://ui.constantcontact.com/sa/fwtf.jsp?llr=ieifeldab&m=1103106318472&ea=…> | About our service provider <http://www.constantcontact.com/legal/service-provider?cc=about-service-prov…> > Sent by shot.secretariaat(a)tue.nl <mailto:shot.secretariaat@tue.nl> in collaboration with > <http://www.constantcontact.com/index.jsp?cc=PT1130> > Try it free today <http://www.constantcontact.com/index.jsp?cc=PT1130>

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Panel of video makers
by Akera, Atsushi 20 Mar '18

20 Mar '18

Hi Everyone, Does anyone within SIG CIS do historical videography (or do you know anyone who does)? If so, please contact Sam Smiley. They’re looking for one or two more participants in a panel of video makers @ SHOT. Thanks! - Atsushi [cid:image002.jpg@01D3BFD8.1D6229D0]<https://www.historyoftechnology.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/OSP-18-Smile…> (the proposal is also attached to this message as a pdf) From: Smiley, Sam [mailto:ssmiley@lesley.edu] Sent: Monday, March 19, 2018 2:30 PM To: Akera, Atsushi <akeraa(a)rpi.edu> Subject: SHOT question if you know people hi Atsushi.. I’m organizing a panel of video makers for SHOT. If it doesn’t get off the ground I’ll make my own video proposal based on my presentation last year, but I do have one other potential panelist from Argentina. Do you know any video makers at SHOT? I could use one or two more people. No more. https://www.historyoftechnology.org/annual-meeting/2018-shot-annual-meeting…

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Silicon Valley: The Untold Story
by Brian Berg 19 Mar '18

19 Mar '18

Hi, Tonight on the Science Channel in the U.S. is the 3-hour 3-part *Silicon Valley: The Untold Story* show that runs from 5-8pm and again from 8-11pm. I believe that that is the local time independent of US time zone. The first part had a sneak showing at the Computer History Museum on Jan. 17 following a discussion that included some of the participants <https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3LGhY5PfBGI&feature=youtu.be&t=0> in the show, namely WhatsApp cofounder Jan Koum, Sun/Marimba veteran Kim Polese, DFJ venture capitalist Heidi Roizen, and Steve Wozniak. A trailer for the series is here <https://vimeo.com/244123273>. Info about watching this online is here <https://www.sciencechannel.com/tv-shows/silicon-valley-the-untold-story/>. _________________________ Brian A. Berg / bberg(a)StanfordAlumni.org Berg Software Design 14500 Big Basin Way, Suite F, Saratoga, CA 95070 USA Voice: 408.741.5010 <(408)%20741-5010> / Cell: 408.568.2505 <(408)%20568-2505> Consulting: Flash Memory/USB/Storage/Patents visit the Storage Cornucopia: www.bswd.com FMS Technical Chair: www.FlashMemorySummit.com IEEE Milestone <http://www.ieeeghn.org/wiki/index.php/Milestones:List_of_IEEE_Milestones> Coordinator for Region 6 <http://www.ieee-region6.org/> IEEE SCV Section <http://www.ewh.ieee.org/r6/scv/> Past Chair / IEEE-CNSV <http://www.CaliforniaConsultants.org> Board Director IEEE Silicon Valley Tech History Committee <http://www.SiliconValleyHistory.com/> Chair

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New initiative: SHOT International Small Grants
by Andrew Russell 19 Mar '18

19 Mar '18

Dear colleagues - I’m forwarding the following message on behalf of Honghong Tinn. If you have questions, please follow up with her or the other committee members. Cheers, Andy —————————— Dear SIG Chairs, On behalf of the International Small Grants Committee of SHOT, I am writing to share with you SHOT's new initiatives-- International Small Grants, and would like to ask for your kind help in circulating the news with your SIG members. SHOT welcomes endorsement requests for events that globalize the Society’s intellectual terrain as well as broaden its international membership. SHOT seeks to advance the historical study of technology and its relations with politics, economics, labor, business, the environment, public policy, science, and the arts. The International Small Grants Program aims to foster a stronger international community for the study of the history of technology. We welcome proposals that engage with international and transnational topics of technology, as well as those who promote the growth of an international network of scholars in the history of technology. We will consider proposals from external individuals and organizations. In 2018, deadlines for submitting proposals for funded endorsements are April 5 and September 15, and should be sent by email directly to each member of the International Small Grants Committee. The 2018 Committee members include Mara Mills (mmills(a)nyu.edu <mailto:mmills@nyu.edu>), Jenny L. Smith (jenny.smith(a)ust.hk <mailto:jenny.smith@ust.hk>), and Honghong Tinn (chair) (tinnho(a)earlham.edu <mailto:tinnho@earlham.edu>). Please see the SHOT website for further details: https://www.historyoftechnology.org/how-to-apply/ <https://www.historyoftechnology.org/how-to-apply/> Thank you so much in advance. Please do not hesitate to let me know if you have any questions or suggestions. Sincerely, Honghong Tinn, on behalf of the SHOT International Small Grants Committee

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Telly Tympas' book is out
by Alberts, Gerard 14 Mar '18

14 Mar '18

Dear colleagues, Aristotle Tympas' long awaited book is out now: Calculation and Computation in the Pre-electronic Era The Mechanical and Electrical Ages http://www.springer.com/gp/book/9781848827417 The book offers an introduction to the history of computing during the ‘first’ (of steam) and the ‘second’ (of electricity) industrial revolution. It brakes away from the idea that the history of computing before the second half of the 20th century was unimportant. In fact the Industrial Revolution was made possible and even sustained by a parallel revolution in computing technology. An examination and historiographical assessment of key developments helps to show how the era of modern electronic computing proceeded from a continual computing revolution that had arisen during the mechanical and the electrical ages. To quote David Mindells praise: "In this fascinating, original work, Tympas indispensably intertwines the histories of analog and digital computing, showing them to be inseparable from the evolution of social and economic conditions. " Please inspect the Springer page for our series: http://www.springer.com/series/8442 The previous two volumes in the series by Bill Aspray were not announced to the SIGCIS list. Allow me to just mention them here William Aspray, Women and Underrepresented Minorities in Computing; A Historical and Social Study Examines the highly neglected subject of race in the history of science and technology http://www.springer.com/gp/book/9783319248097 William Aspray, Participation in Computing; The National Science Foundation’s Expansionary Programs Examines the unexplored history of the NSF, an important player in US computer history http://www.springer.com/gp/book/9783319248301 Further volumes to come in 2018 PLUS we are about to launch a new series SpringerBriefs in History of Computing (http://www.springer.com/series/15184) Best wishes from Amsterdam in spring: only last week the ice on the canals allowed skating. Gerard Alberts

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Bombe Crowdfunder raises £60,000
by Brian Randell 14 Mar '18

14 Mar '18

Hi: From a TNMOC Press release: Turing-Welchman Bombe to stay on the Bletchley Park Estate TNMOC Crowdfunder raises £60,000 donated by 500 supporters in four weeks Following its hugely successful Crowdfunder, The National Museum of Computing (TNMOC) on the Bletchley Park Estate has started planning a new gallery for the working reconstruction of the Turing-Welchman Bombe. Over four weeks, more than 500 supporters generously donated £60,000, £10,000 above the ambitious target set at the beginning of the campaign. Donations are still coming in. Commissioning the creation for the new Bombe Gallery is now underway. Planned to open this summer, the gallery will be located close to the existing world-famous Colossus Gallery. Together these two displays will explore the ingenuity and inventiveness of the Second World War codebreakers -- and the beginnings of our digital world. The Turing-Welchman Bombe accelerated the breaking of Enigma-enciphered messages revealing enemy operations. Colossus, created by a team led by Tommy Flowers, sped up the deciphering of Lorenz strategic messages of Hitler and his German High Command. Andrew Herbert, chair of trustees at The National Museum of Computing, said: “The generosity of the Crowdfunder donors has astonished us. As an organisation that is reliant solely on sales and voluntary donations for income, we initially thought that the £50,000 target, although necessary, might be too ambitious. We continue to receive off-Crowdfunder donations, but we already know that we have exceeded our target by £10,000. <snip> Full story at http://www.tnmoc.org/news/news-releases/bombe-crowdfunder-raises-£60000<http://www.tnmoc.org/news/news-releases/bombe-crowdfunder-raises-%C2%A360000> Cheers Brian Randell — School of Computing Science, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE1 7RU EMAIL = Brian.Randell(a)ncl.ac.uk<mailto:Brian.Randell@ncl.ac.uk> PHONE = +44 191 208 7923 URL = http://www.ncl.ac.uk/computing/people/profile/brianrandell.html

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Fwd: SHOT International Small Grants
by Joly MacFie 14 Mar '18

14 Mar '18

FYI - ---------- Forwarded message ---------- From: Honghong Tinn <hhtinn(a)gmail.com> Date: Tue, Mar 13, 2018 at 9:13 PM Subject: SHOT International Small Grants To: Mara Mills <mmills(a)nyu.edu>, Jenny Leigh SMITH <jenny.smith(a)ust.hk> Dear Friends and Colleagues, I am writing to ask for your help with advertising the International Small Grants of the Society for the History of Technology (SHOT), on behalf of the International Small Grants Committee of SHOT. SHOT welcomes endorsement requests for events that globalize the Society’s intellectual terrain as well as broaden its international membership. SHOT seeks to advance the historical study of technology and its relations with politics, economics, labor, business, the environment, public policy, science, and the arts. The International Small Grants Program aims to foster a stronger international community for the study of the history of technology. We welcome proposals that engage with international and transnational topics of technology, as well as those who promote the growth of an international network of scholars in the history of technology. We will consider proposals from external individuals and organizations. In 2018, deadlines for submitting proposals for funded endorsements are April 5 and September 15, and should be sent by email directly to each member of the International Small Grants Committee. The 2018 Committee members include Mara Mills (mmills(a)nyu.edu) Jenny L. Smith (jenny.smith(a)ust.hk) and Honghong Tinn (chair) (tinnho(a)earlham.edu) Please see the SHOT website for further details: https://www.historyoftechnology.org/how-to-apply/ Thank you so much in advance. Please do not hesitate to let me know if you have any questions or suggestions. Sincerely, Honghong Tinn, on behalf of the SHOT International Small Grants Committee -- --------------------------------------------------------------- Joly MacFie 218 565 9365 Skype:punkcast -------------------------------------------------------------- -

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